1 284/irJ 
 
 ■v. 
 
 58881 
 
1284/Tr 
 
with tho Compliments of the 
 Author. 
 
 YJ K(i I X CONT I NP:N T 
 
 J,. LEOTTJK.E 
 
 DELIVERED UNDER THE AUSPICES 
 
 I'h' lilK 
 
 St, S 
 
 FDI-I 
 
 ER.^^Y ASSOGl/TIO 
 
 In Watson's Hall 
 
 On the Evenmng of the 1/TH of Mahoh. \- 
 
 
 • « t 
 
 SI. .InllN. N. i:. 
 
 11. A. 11. -M (» i; !!<• W 
 
* 
 
ri"^||K tnlliiwiiiLi li('tni>' |in triiil> In no uriatrr miiit tli;iii tli;it nf lninL: 
 -1- my ii|iiiiinii iif the <'niintry. lia-cd i>\[ ]»r.-nii;il nli-t rvatimi n\\i\ r.\|M r- 
 iiiuT. iluriiiLi' sfVtral yt'iir.-" rcsidi ikt in \Viiiiii|ii". wliiif i-niiilui-tiiiL: tin 
 Maiiitnlia Laml l^ln'auallll in travclliiiL: tliri>Mi:liniit the t< rritoriiv- in con- 
 ntctinn tlu'i'fwitli : tn'^ctln'i' with a ciinipilatitin nt" fact* I'mui tlic In >t 
 autlmritio. Tlic >iilpirii \v;i.- cIiumii lucaUM- <'t' my rarni >t fcmv ictiun 
 tliat tlif iiMc ureal want nf i'anaila is a Inarty apiin<'iatinn liy ( 'anailian- 
 (if it^ .-|)K'nili(l n'sniin-o. ami tlir |irnmi><' wliidi tlioc ].rii|nily di \i ln|ii d. 
 liiiM nut I'nr tlic rntiirc. it \va> nnt written I'nr iinMicatinn. but a 
 ueiieral ri'ijiiest liavini: lieen ma«le tliat it .-ImuM lie |iul)li-lieil. I liuve 
 aeceditl tn the fi'ijilest ill the hnjK' that the statiliielits cnntaiiii'd in it in 
 relatinii tn •• ()iii' N'iiLiiii ('mitim lit " may in -nine deiirei' enntrilniie i.. 
 that nhject. 
 
 A. i{. y\. 
 
OUR VIRGIN CONTINENT. 
 
 Wli.-n any country has l.oci»iii.', or is lik.-ly to lurmnc tli.i 
 tlifater of iniportivnt elianLfi's, it I.rconu's a .U-.-ply iutrn'stinj,' an.l 
 instnictiv.' stii.ly to faniiliaiizf oursclv.s witli tli.' Ica.lin^' rv.'uts 
 in its history ; its jrco^^najtliical iM»siti..n, physical features, a^'ri- 
 cultural, coiniHcrcial and iimnufacturin.,' capahilitics, mineral 
 resources, political, e.lucatioual and religious institutions, and 
 the manners, customs and characteristics of its ]»eo]>le. 
 
 To such a study I now invite attentiim. (H th«' many vast 
 and nia<,M)ifieent reu'ions over which waves s<i proudly the red- 
 cross Ha",' of EiiLjlan.l, none arc destined t(» (U'cupy a more honor- 
 able and inHuential position, than the territories ..f ('ana.hu 
 The subject of my lecture this eveniu;,' may he summed up in 
 these won Is of the poet : 
 
 '•Tlnmuh thow fire s..»t<r airs, ami liri^'it'T skifs, 
 
 Andnrt <lespi)ile(l, in spleiMlid ruin lii-s, 
 <"iiii ^'litti'riiiK lii'Ws. or pulishwl miuhli- vie 
 
 With ill! tiiis (Vusii ami yoiulilul inajosty ? 
 Hrdiul liikt's. liuld iiKmntaiiis, i)niirif. rock ami flood, 
 
 TIh'sl' nature,' formed in ono fantastir mood, 
 Then, ciireless smilinR, thrc\r iiwiiv lit-r nu.iild.' 
 
 Principal Grant says: "Beyond the dividing; ri<lge which sep- 
 arates the waters flowing into Lake Sup.-rior from those which 
 take a northwesterly course and then northern direction towards 
 Hudson's Bay, and for more than a thousand miles alon.; ;.Mvat 
 lakes, .rreat rivers, and a sm-cession of smalh'r lakes, a thousand 
 miles'am-oss rcdling prairies and another thousan<l throuj,d» woods 
 and over three great ranges of motnitains lies North Western 
 Canada whose .Iream of a glorious future Avhen it shall he, 
 "Greater Britain" and th«' highway across which the fabrics and 
 proibicts of Asia shall be carried to the eastern as well^ as the 
 western side of the Atlantic, is soon to become a reality." 
 
 Lord Dufferin says: "From its geographical position, and its 
 peculiar characteristics, :SIanitoba may be regarded as the key 
 
htotti- i)f that iiif;;fify fticli of -^'x-^U'i ]ir<»\ inffs wfiicfi s[>«iis tfu* 
 fuiitiiunt f»i»ni tlif Atlimtic to tin- I'acifu-. It was line tliat ( 'aii- 
 aila, rincr>^ii\;;; fnmi lu-v utx"l» iiitd t'on-^ts, fitst ^a/t-il upon Iut 
 lollin^i juairit's umi uiu\|»lor»tl Nnitli NN'i-st, aiitl Icanit, as liv an 
 uii«'\j)«rt«.-<l iHvclatinn, tliat lni liisttuical t»ivitnrivs of i\\v ('an- 
 atlas, \\ci' rastrvii .seal»*»ttr»ls nf N«\v |)nm>\vitk. l^alnaflur aii<l 
 Nova Scotia, ln'v L'luicntian lakes ninl valleys, roin lamls ami 
 |)Hstun's though tht-mstlvf,", more t\t»-iisivi' than half a (lo/,«'i» 
 Kin'opt-aii K iii;^'" loins, \v»rv hut the vt-stihulcs ami aMt«'-clianilieis, 
 to that, till then, uiulnauirtl of Doniinion — whost- illimitahlc 
 diint'Usions, ailk*- eonfound the aiithiiu'tic of the surveyor aii<l 
 the vt'iiHcatioM of the «'.\j»lorei." 
 
 This luagniHetiit territory, rich in resourfen, fertile in soil, 
 and varied in cliniate,possessin;4' within its^df all the elements 
 necessary for the huilding tip of a great nation niay a[>|>ro|»riate- 
 ly he desi«riiat<>d, OiR ViKGiN CoNTiNKNT. It is not niv inten- 
 tion this evening Ui recount to vou the details of the earlv his- 
 tory of this t»'rritory, how for years the rival trading coinjianies 
 Were never at peace, how tlie Indian and the white man ming- 
 led in uiortal agony; how pati*;nt wonten and starving children 
 were too often "in one nd hurial hknt." I miyht tell vou of con- 
 tests with the savage triW-s and descrihe scenes of savage ven- 
 geance, which found their counter[)art in civilized atrocities, and 
 of the Ked Ki\er lli-ht llion lead hy Louis Kiel, a fiend in hu- 
 man form, who cruelly put tt» death a true, loyal and upright 
 eitizf-n, Thomas Scott. But in a suhject s«» large we liave pleas- 
 anter themes to tlwell u[)on. Let us turn to the results of peace. 
 
 THK A(X'ESSI()X OF THK TKKHITOHV. 
 
 On the formation of the Donunion of Canada, the leading 
 politicians of the day, felt it to he highly de.sirahle that this ter- 
 ritory .should he included in the new confederacy, and that the 
 (iovernment should ac(piire jurisdiction over the vast regions 
 then under the contn)l of the H B. Co'v. Accordinglv in 1801) 
 the (,'oujpanv's rights, U) all its remaining territories, were hought 
 up under Imperial authority hy tho Dominion of Canada, and, 
 as a monopoly, and a semi-sovereign power the Co'y cea.sed to 
 exist. The glory of the great fur-traders has departed. Their 
 vast monopoly is broken up ; the husbandnian, true lord of the 
 soil, is entering upon their ancient hunting ground. Those par- 
 allel hands of iron stretcliing away to the west proclaim that a 
 mighty revolution is in progre.ss. The gray hunter full of mem- 
 ories of wild days gone by, .shall hear the trains of the Canadian 
 Pacific rumble along and .see a vision of golden harvests and 
 
i 
 
 sinilin;,' linincstt'fitl^ on tln' onci- (Icsolatf )tla*ins wIuti" ]it> fullow- 
 «<1 tlic itntfdlo. 
 
 Tin- i>iic<' jiai'l for tlti'. inau'iiiticiMit ti-rritnry .nmor.ius to out' 
 *iixth of a jM'iit pir acrf or one tiftit'tjtli thf amount i>ai<l liv tin* 
 y. S. for fro/t-n Alaska, Twi-Iv.- yi-ars liavi* passe. 1 since Mani- 
 tol»a ln'caiui- a I'rMvi!ii'<', Imt only foi the jmst six ytars, has then* 
 Iti'eii aiiv ''refit Ji 'tivitv in <level(»nnient- 
 
 An expaiisive territory awaits tho^f enifjiifeJ iu eiery evo- 
 cation of life. 
 
 ITS JMH)(;|{KSS 
 
 <lunn^' these few years has heeii most remarkaMe, sofu-tliin;!,' 
 unpreoeth'ntt'tl in tlje annals of the worhl, antl is of pecnliar 
 interest Ut ns as ('anailians from a national standpoint. Havin«4 
 traversed it in all ijirections. and knowi!ij,' tljoron^ddy its eapa- 
 l)ilities, the more one se»'s the njore one is impressed with the 
 convictioii that the country is an»<jnLj the most fertile re}/ions in 
 the world, and yi/u wonder with continued surpi-ise that the 
 produetiveness (»f the soil ami other resourees and advanta,i,'es 
 are so evenly ilistrihute'l foi- various and iliversitied pursuits. 
 
 In a eoiumercial point of view, the territory, in J.sT'J, 
 <'ould speak of harely $.')() 000, worth of imports, to-day thesn 
 Jiave risen to nearly !?(!.000.()00, — tlie imports of ( 'anada's 
 ten yeai" old adoption reaehin;,' within half a million of th<' 
 value of Nt'W llrunswiek's imports. At so early a ))eriod in 
 our liistory, it promises well for our futuif, that we ha\ e, com- 
 paratively sjieakinLf, outstripped the older I'rovinces of the 
 J)ominion. 
 
 Ten vears «■'.) there was uttt a mile of railwav in tlu' 
 territory. In Deeemlter. IN?^, tht- tir>t railway train erossetl 
 the southern iKMindary of .Manitoba, yet, to-ilay, Winnipei; is 
 the converj^fini; point for si.x n»ads, and we )ia\e in operatioij 
 ni'arly I .')()() iinles of railroad, in [)oint of construction, the hest 
 on the Continent, repn'sentinjjj a cost of nearly i:^.')0,000,000. 
 
 The volume of our trade for the vear endin.r in June 
 1HS2, sW(dlcd to the hai.dsonie .sum, in round nundiers, (/f 
 ^7.000,000, and the whole tiTritory is advancijjg in wealth 
 and i)r<»sperity. 
 
 The treasury of the Dominion has l»een ijreatly liene- 
 tittetl hv the increased trade. The duties colli.'ete<l cxceedinLf 
 those of the previous vear hv nearlv a half. 
 
 The numlier of innnigrants arriving- in the coiuitrv for 
 the year, was 1 K^OOO ; against 2.').000 in ISSO. The un- 
 })aralleled progress of our Nortli-West, has amayce<l the whole 
 
8 
 
 v\oi'M — cities anil towns liavi- sprung' into cxistrneL- in ttu 
 almost incivtlil>le spacv of tinu-. Tht! laihvay crossinLj of tin- 
 Assiniltoinc at (Jraml Vallt-v a vrar and a half airo, consistt'd 
 of Mc Vicar's lo<i caliin — to-dav it lias lilo.ssdmcd into the ('it\ 
 of Brandon, with a j»o{>nlation of ."i.OOO. Uc^ina, the capital 
 of the i\('\v Province, six months au<», was an unoccupied 
 prairie, now a town of 2..')00 inlialiitants. 
 
 THK (;UKAT CITV. 
 
 I ci>uid cite man\ instancos whtnr tow n> have .->[>iun!^- uj* 
 a-> if l>v n>aulc, l>ut tl\t.' n»(.»st remarkahU- n-rowth of a cit\ 
 ever known, and one of winch Manit<>lians nia\ fetd proud, is 
 that of th(> City (jf Winni[)en-. 
 
 Ten vears a^o, situated at the junction of the llrd and 
 As.sinihoine rivers, ^\■as a snudl liamh-t, a H. 15. ( 'oy's post. 
 Five years aj^'o it had «,a'own to a town (tf .'»,()()() po[>ulati(jii. 
 Since tlien I havt- watched its ui-owth until to-day this wonder 
 citv of the world hoasts of .SO.OOO inhai>itants, with its tine 
 wide streets li<^hti-d with electricity, its street railways, mag- 
 nificent water- works, jtalutial re.sidences, extensive husiness 
 .houses, and iiinucjnse whfjlesale trade, undoultti-dlv destined to 
 hecon\e one of the leadinu' cities of the ( 'ontinent. 
 
 Its assessment valuation, last N'ear, was 840,()0( ),()()(), and 
 $'),00(),()0() Were expended ill huildiiigs and im])r()venients. 
 Down the <ireat Reil and Assinihoine rivers and Lake Winni- 
 pee', .'iOO miles in length for a 1000 miles west, the produce of 
 di.stant regions in the North and West, for moic thaii l.')00 
 miles is home to the uraneries and st(ji'es of Wiiinipee-, fiom 
 whence it can he railed to the Atlantic, and thence shippeil to 
 Europe and other parts of the world. Nature has located the 
 metroi)olis, and man has fitly named it Winnipei;'. ( )thei' 
 laroe cities will spring' up within this territory, Itut Winnipeg- 
 must continue steadily forward, finally attaininy' the su- 
 premacy of connnei'cial impoitance sustaining' to the east. 
 West, and north, tin.' same relations which Ahmtreal now sus- 
 tains to the rest of the Dominion. The confluence of the 
 Red and Assinihoine rivers might some day he rivalled hy 
 the forks of the Saskatchewan, hut the climate of Hudson's Bay 
 will first liave to he reversed. Both sites are destined to 
 liecome great cities, and h(jth will one day find amhitious 
 rivals in the Bow an<l Peace river countries. 
 
 OUR yV.\V PROVINCES. 
 An order in Council was passed last year diviiling the 
 North West territorv hevond the confine^ of Manitoha into 
 
9 
 
 four lU'W pioviuci's, or inorf prujiL-ily >«)nakinn, tcriilnjit>. ;i> 
 follows : — 
 
 AssiNiiiniA, eontjiiniiiL; al>out !).'),()()(), .si|uarf milivs, ill(•lllll^••^ 
 tli»- Qii' Ai»j»»'llf, South Saskjitc'lii'wan, and Souris rivfrs aii<l 
 Forts IV'lly aiitl Ellicf. Tin* iiriiicipal town and capital is llc- 
 <^ina, on the Wascana I'iver. 
 
 Saskatcukwan, containing- 114,000 sqnarc miles, inchnlo 
 till' towns of Battk'fonl. ('arlct<tn, and Pi'incc Aliicrt. 
 
 AiJii'.in'A, containing 100,000 s(|uar<' miles, includes tin- 
 Hattlc, l>ow, and I'n-lly rivers, the cattle ranche diNtrict, the 
 towns of ('al;;arv, I'Mmonton ami Foi't McLt-od. 
 
 Athai'.aska, containing- 122,000, sipiar.' miles, include- 
 the celehrated Peace river distrii-t. This division of the va.->r 
 countr' known as the Lfreat North-West, will have the effect of 
 localising,' points which hitherto wei-e vei-y indefinitely com])i'c- 
 liende*!. and hy liavim,' each its capital assi«^-ned it will form 
 nuclei for liew settlements. We may widl sav with the ixiet 
 Whi'.tier :— " The i-mliment.>> of emi»ire, hei-e, ai-e plastic and 
 warm, and the fragment- of a mii;-hty state are roiuidini;- into 
 form."' 
 
 in:s(iri{(-Ks and imivsk al asi'kct — nin imnf.hiks and 
 
 MINKltAI, WKAl.Til. 
 
 In n'lancin;^- at the rt-sources ami jthysical a>))ect of ()ii! 
 VlHdIX ( 'nNTlNKN'l', We Collie, hrst, to that portion of the territory, 
 hetween the head of Lake Su))eiio)-, at Thunder Bay, and Lake 
 WiInlipe^•, and whii-h is ever l)efore th>* puhlic in the discussion 
 of the Boundary Awai'd. ( >ntario \vants it, and so does Maiii- 
 toha, hecaust' of the millions of wraith undeveloped in its exten- 
 sive pineries ami mineial resources, and. indeed, the value of the 
 land, ae-riculturally, i.> hy no means eontemptihle. The Itainy 
 river, and other sections, will compare with the liest in natiu-al 
 fertility, and the proximity of the whole tract t(» the free navi- 
 y-ation of Lake Supei'ior, makes it certain that hieh ])i-ices will 
 lie ohtaineil for all the exportahle siu'plus, while a larLi'e home 
 market will he afforded hy the luudK'rmen ojieratin^ in the 
 pineries with which the <listrict ahound--. 
 
 The hunlieriiie- value of this ])ortiou of the ti-i-i-itory is .sim- 
 ply heyond computation. Mr. J. ( '. Miller, ex-M. V. V. foi- Mu>- 
 koka, places the value tit the I'rovince of ( )ntario of the timhei- 
 limits in the dehataltle tract at .^1 2.').000,00.i. This estimate was 
 made upon present < )nta.i'io values i^f lumKer, and thei'e are main' 
 reasons why it is an under valuation. 
 
 (..'ol. Dennis, late Deputy Minister of the Interioi' at Ottawa, 
 
 ^ 
 
10 
 
 est filiates tliat ill tlic part i>f tlic <lisj)utt'«[ torritoi'v- west of Lake- 
 Superior tlicrc arc ^(i.OOO.OOO.ODO feet of pine, lioanl measure, 
 and it is the only i-onsiderahle tract of wliite pine in tlie world 
 tliat is not ]i(.'in;f rapidly exliausteil. It is al»soJut(dy certain 
 that t\w pineries of the Northern States an' rapidly ai>i)roacliin;^ 
 exhaustion. Mr. J. IJttle. lunihei'nian of M(jntreal, says that 
 ei^ht years will si-r tlie rwA of tht^ pine foivsts of Michii^-jni, Wis- 
 consin and Minnesota. 
 
 It is estimated tliat in (Jueheeand the old limits of Ontario 
 tliric is enough ])ii\e to last, at the present r.ate of coi\sumption, 
 ft)!' fifty vt.'ars, hut if the American demaml should he doultled, 
 ((uadrupled, or sextnpled, as it is almost certain to he in a very 
 short time, the pineries of these two Pr<n'inces, as they now exist, 
 will lie e.xhausteil in a very short tin\e after the American forests 
 liave yiven out. At !?4() a thousand, which is not a very ]\\-^h 
 jirice for lumher in the North West, the standing pine in this 
 territory is worth Si.O+(),()()0,()()0. ( hu; small timher herth near 
 Kat Portage, which was accpiired at a cost of a fe\\' hun<lred 
 dollars, recently cliange<l hands at a ([uarter of a million. 
 
 The mineral wealth of this district is known to he very i-ich. 
 A ijreat citv will ^row ui* on the north-west coast of Ljike Su- 
 perior, prohahly at Thunder iiay, and the tratHc of the Mhole 
 ( 'anadian North West must pass through the gates of this city. 
 A mil'Mig husiness second only to that of ^[inneaJ)olis must grow 
 uj> at the Kaka-heka Falls, or some other of the many great 
 water-])owers hetweon the prairies and Lake Superior, and Win- 
 nipeg will lie tht> great wholesale mart for the great east as well 
 as the west. 
 
 The Lake of the Woods receives the drainaife of ahout 
 :i.S,()00 s(piare miles of country, ami possesses some of the finest 
 and grandest scenery on the continent, with its 3000 islamls, 
 land-locked channels, the wild and I'ocky gramlein' of its shores, 
 far surpassing the far famed Thousand Islands of (^ur St. Law- 
 renci . 
 
 Look at the Valley of the Winnipeg, a river so heautiful 
 and varied with its woo<led hanks and lake like expansions, the 
 volume of its waters and tremendous })owcr of whose rapids, 
 seems to say to man, "let us rise up and hnild," on this great 
 natural manufacturing site, a large industrial centre. 
 
 The Province of ManitoVia is watered by three great rivers 
 and the lakes of Winnipeg and Manitoba. The outlet of Lake 
 Winnipeg is through the contracted and rocky channel of Nelson 
 River, which Hows into Hudson's Bay. 
 
11 
 
 The ivii'fiii Ln-aildi of tlif l.usiii of tliis lal:f i> al'out tJSO 
 iiiilt's l)y !)2i) iu Iciii^^tli. liruci- its uira i> !vi»i)ro\imatcly .MdO.OOO 
 s(jMHn' niilt's. Laki- Winnipt't^r is (120 milfs jiliovt- tin- sia, an<l 
 witli lakes Munitnlia, Winnipegoosis ami l)aiij)liii\ covcis an an-a 
 x'xct'cdiiiii; 13, ()()() stjuave miles ur alioiit halt' as imicli as liclainl. 
 
 The couiitrv possessini,' a mean elevation of KM) ftrt aliove 
 Lake Vinuipei^ is markcil hy a rid^c calleil Pemhiua Moiiiitaiii, 
 and may contain 70,000 sipiaii- miles, which witli the vallry> df 
 the Red and Assiiiihoine Rivers presents a inai;niHeent agrieul- 
 tinal district. 
 
 SucceediuL,' the low rcijious then- are tlie narrow terraef> of 
 the Pemhina Mountain, which rise in ahnipt stej>s, cxcfpt wht-if 
 cut hv the hroail vallevs of rivers, to the level of a hi-dii-r platiaii. 
 whose eastern limit is formeil l»y the precipitous escarpments of 
 the Hidint,', Duck, anil I^orcu[)ine Mountains witli ile-tachrd oiit- 
 lines of the Turtle. Thumler and Pas(juia Mountains. This is 
 
 the 
 
 (ilUvVT IMtAIIMK IM.ATKAC 
 
 of Rupert's Land, whose western houndary is tin* (Jrauil ('ottau 
 <lu Missouri, which forms the north eastern limit of the plains of 
 the North West. Its area is ahout 1 20,000 s(|uar(' milfs. Mani- 
 tol)a contains only a portion of what is now often called the 
 "Great Fertile Btdt," whose area is aluuit 8>s(),000 sipiare miles. 
 Lakes ALanitt)l»a and Winni})e,L;()osis within this I'rovincr 
 are each one hundreil and twenty miles in length. T]u- head 
 t)f Winnipegoosis is at Mossy Portage which is ahout four miles 
 in length, thro\igh low, wet ground, and cinniects with ('edar 
 Lake on the main Sakatchewan. This in.-portant connection, 
 which is occupying the attention of the (lovernmeiit. wouhl 
 form a water line of communication of !')()() miles in length 
 from the city of Winnipeg t<» the foot of the Rocky Mountains. 
 
 THE SASKATfHKWAN — ITS TIUJUTAUl KS AND CorNTUY. 
 
 The geographical })osition and extent of tiiat section of the 
 i North West known as the Saskatchewan l)eing of })rimary im- 
 ' portance for the extension of settlement and commerce, and the 
 
 highway of the Interoceanic Railwav, now huildin*: to the Pa- 
 
 citic, mav l)e hrieHv diserilieil. 
 
 Its length from its eastern h(»un(l;ii'y Westward to the sources 
 
 of the Saskatchewan is ahout NOO miles, and it> area is e<|ual tt) 
 
 that of France and Germanv, or ahout six times that of the State 
 ; of New York. The greater })ortion of this section contains the 
 \ richest soil to he found anvwhere in tlie world. The entile 
 i region in the vicinity of the Rocky Mountains is extremely fer- 
 
12 
 
 tilt'. uliotindiiiL;' in f<)r<»<ts, plniiis, (•<),al-li('Ms, prairies, lakes, 
 streams, ami mineral spriiiijs. Ami are those vast aii»l imiumer- 
 altle fields of hay f'oi-ever destineil to he consumeil hy Hru or 
 perish ill the autumnal snows :* And those abundant Juines of 
 coal, can it he, that they are doomed to remain forever inactive < 
 Not so I TIk! lahoriiiL,^ hand coml»ined with ca])ital is alrea<ly 
 developin^j our vast resources and <;ivin<.j them value ; a stron;Lf, 
 active and enter[)risini^ peo{)le are tilling this spacious void, and 
 r)c loiiM- the wild lieasts wiU give place to our domestic animals, 
 and tlor;k.s and herds will ^rraze in the beautiful meadows that 
 border the nuudterless hills, valleys and plains of this our west- 
 »'rn iidieritance. To-day ('ana<lian enter[»rise is developing this 
 land of pi-omise. Already the electric wire that connects the 
 whole civilization of tin; world penetrates t^) its western limit, 
 and l»v l'S<S7 the iron horse will follow its trail, carryin'j; the 
 food of man to the Kast and the West as well as the wealth of 
 India and ( 'hina. 
 
 The earlv ])ioneers, in a countrv like this, have ijreat ad van- 
 tages in being able to appro[>riate the best lands anJ most eligible 
 situations, ami from the tendency of population l)eing governed 
 ])riiuarily by the direction of the navigable waters, s(> M'ill the 
 liion(!er lay the foumlatiijn of thriving towns along their gn-at 
 extent to the foot of the Rocky Mountains. 
 
 The north and south hranches of the Saskatchewan, or Ki-sis- 
 kah-che-Avun (the river that runs swiftly) have their sources in the 
 Kocky Mountains, hut a few miles apart. From their nearly 
 commen source, the North Branch diverges north-eastward, and 
 the South Branch, or Bow River, south-eastward, till at 2')0 miles 
 due eastward they are 30o miles apai-t ; then gradually approach- 
 ing they meet at 550 miles eastward from their source. Their 
 magnitude will be more fully understood hy the following com- 
 parison, the total length being 1804il miles: — It is 184 miles 
 longer than the Ganges ; 1164 miles longer than the Rhine ; 1G41) 
 miles longer than the Thames, and only 376 miles shorter than 
 the Nile. In considering the character of the Saskatchewan and 
 its country, I will limit myself to a brief description of some locali- 
 ties from notes made hy me during a trip in the summer of 1881. 
 Ascending from its mouth at Lake Winnipeg, there are two miles 
 of strong current up to the Grand Rapids, w'hich are nearly three 
 miles in length. The country in this vicinity has a splendid soil ; 
 there is also an abundance of timber and fuel, for building ; and 
 game of all kinds ; and between this point and the lake would be 
 very fiivorahle for the estohlishment of tisheries. The Pas Mission 
 
13 
 
 at the moulh of ilie Pjvsqniii Riv(!r is about 85 railos fnrtber np 
 .mid is a prospifrous locality. 
 
 Tlie next most fuvorultle Bccticni for a<;riculture conmitnices at 
 ■ft point about I-IO niilos aliovo tliis, and the soil consists of a riclt 
 •alluvial deposit ten feet thick; and there is a fair quality of timber, 
 Tliis character of country continues till we a[)proach Fort La Cornc, 
 about 150 miles, and is well watered and drained bv many line 
 creeks. A few miles west is the settlement of Prince Albert or 
 H. \\, Coy's town of (loshen. The settlement extends about thirty 
 miles alonf; the Saskatchewan, the farms fronting on the river and 
 runninjjf two miles back. This is a flourishing settlement of about 
 4000 inhabitants. 
 
 The country drained by the North Saskatchewan from this 
 point to Edmonton — a distance of over 500 miles by the river— as 
 well as that of its tributary, the l^attle River, is of a general uiii- 
 fortn character, more or less interspersed with w(»ods, sufficient for 
 many years to come, with the gra<iual development of the country 
 and opening uj) of the vast coal deposits and forests westward on 
 its immediate l)anks, to supply the wants of p large population ; 
 and here I might mention that the coal-Uelds which cross the dif- 
 ferent branches of the SaskatclKnvan are a great source of wealth, 
 and form the settlement (»f the valley, in which nature has multi- 
 plied picturesque scenery that challenges comparison with the 
 most remarkable of its kind in the world, I would ask you if 
 you do not think that this is a wonderful arrangement of Provi- 
 dence ? 
 
 " Why, the formation of the coal is evidently a sign that the 
 country is to be largely colonized. How came the coal ? I ccnild 
 not help, as I stood on the biinks of the mighty Saskatchewan at 
 Edmonton and took up a bit of the coal handed to me, allowing 
 my mind to wander back through centuries of by-gone ages. 
 Philosophers tell us that on the banks of these rivers, it may be 
 ten thousand years ago, there were vast forests. As these trees 
 grew they drank in the rays of the heat and light of the sun, then 
 came great convulsions that embedded them in the bowels of the 
 earth ; and then a great change came on — a chemical change re- 
 sulting in these very trees being turned into coal. Now when the 
 time comes — we are on the very eve of it — when J^ritish enterprise 
 and capital shall have disentombed coal and scattered it l)y our 
 railway system all over these magnificent territories, destined to 
 brighten and lighten up so many hearths and homes of our people, 
 what would it be, I ask, but a i-esurrection, so to speak, of tlie heat 
 and the light that came from the sun thousands of years ago— heat 
 
14 
 
 Hiid lij^'lit tliiit liiivc Iieon liiiricd in a scjiiilchie from \vlii\'li Caiiii((iiii) 
 fiiteriirise 1ms rcjllfd buck the stone *.' " * 
 
 Iniinediiitely iiltovo the Forks the Saskiitchewan is only alioiit 
 two hundred yards in width, hut the current is swift. This ])()int 
 1ms every prospect of heconiinj,' a larj^e connuereial and inunufac- 
 tnrin;^' centre, the surroiindinj,' country heing of unsurpassed fer- 
 tility and ci>mniandin<* natural valuahle resources through the 
 immense system of navigation which centres there. 
 
 Looking northward, the country heyond the North Uraneh of 
 the Saskatchewan is densely coverej with an unusually large 
 growth of timher in sutUcient quantities for a settlement of almost 
 any extent for nniny years, after which the extensive forests at the 
 base of the llockv ^Mountains, manufactured into lumber and tloattjd 
 down the same river, will l)e available for its needs in bniKling, and 
 the unrivalled coal-beds of the upper Saskatchewan will furnish 
 abundance of cheap fuel. To the south and west s})reads the beau- 
 tiful Park Countrv which has given the Saskatchewan farmer nat- 
 ural fields of generally the ricliest land, dotted with lakes and 
 groves. Seventy miles beyond are "the Moose Woods," a rich 
 alluvial exi)ansion of the low valley of the river partly wooded, with 
 rich glades between. 
 
 About fifty miles above this the South Branch approaches the 
 Cyprus Hills, which extend 1(50 miles. This section is also well 
 adapted for stock raising, being covered with tine timher, abounding 
 in excellent grass, and well watered. Battle Biver enters the 
 North lirancli of the Saskatchewan about 170 miles above the 
 main forks. It drains a large part of the country between the North 
 and South Brandies, where the pasturage is very rich. Coal pre- 
 sents itself there on the banks 200 miles from its moutli. The 
 rich prairie country which covers the course of the ]^attle Biver 
 and the northerly part of Bed Deer Biver, and includes the North 
 Branch from the forks up to thirty miles above Edmonton has a 
 l)readth of about 100 miles at the forks, 70 mil(;s at the mouth of 
 Battle Biver, and 70 at its source, beyond which the belt of fertile 
 prairie becomes gradually narrower, and, turning to the southward 
 up the course of the Bed Deer Biver, becomes merged in the fertile 
 region on the skirt of the mountains below J^ow Fort, on the South 
 Branch. 
 
 Tiie Bed Deer, Bow and liellv rivers are tributaries of the 
 South Branch of the Saskatchewan, and drain a beautiful and 
 most fertile region eight times greater in extent than Manitoba. 
 
 The climate is much milder than in Manitoba, and if not 
 
 * Bishop of Siiskatihuwan. 
 
15 
 
 quite equftl for fiinniu;,' in jjfraiii riiisinjf, will tVoin its vast extent 
 of rich, niitrituins ;,'riissfs become the j^Mcat stock raisinj^ coinitrv of 
 the west. Already the Cochrane and other ranclic companies have 
 large herds cropping,' the plains of this territory. 
 
 TIIK ASSlNlIUilNT, ANH f^f' .VPeKLI.K. 
 
 Of the rivers not trihntary t(» the Saskaicliewan hut rnnnint,' 
 within its country, whose rich and heaiitifiil valleys nnirked out 
 hy nature to be cultivated and inhabited by man, the most impor- 
 tant is the Assiniboine, which l»y its very windin<4 course is 000 
 miles in len<,^1li. At '2'20 nn"les west from its mouth it turns north- 
 ward and receives its tributary the Qu' Apptdle, which continiu\s 
 directly westward lor 'I'A) miles. The Assiniboine receives liv(! 
 tributaries Ix-yond this, idl present inj^' a rich a;rricultural, pictur- 
 es<|ue. ami undulatin<r country. The l^u' Appelle runs throuj^'li 
 a m(»st deli<j;hlful valley and of which the expansion forms ci;iht 
 lakes, the hillsi(hs aic deeply ravined and wooded, the wild hop 
 ;^rows luxuriously, and in fact we travel tlir()U<j;h a rich and beauti- 
 til'ul prairie, the finest in the whole country. l)ut to ajiipreciate 
 the maijjni licence of our vast inairie r<'i;'i(Ui, in the j^rajjliic langua^'e 
 of Prof. Himl : " It must be seen at sunris(! when the vast plain 
 suddenly iiashes with rose-colored li<j[lit, as the lays of the sun 
 sparkle in the dew (Ui the lon;^% rich ^^rass, },'ently stirred by ihe 
 unfailin<^f nu)rnin;j; breeze. 
 
 " It must iie seen at noon-day when refraction swells into the 
 forms of distant hill ran<^'es, the ancient lieaches a!id rid^jes of 
 liuke Winiiiix'fjf, wbich marl< its former extension ; when each 
 willow bush is ma;^nitied into a y:rove, each far distant clump of 
 aspens, not seen before, into wide forests, and the outline of 
 wooden! river banks, far beyoml uJiassisted vision, rise into view. 
 
 " It must be at sunset, when just as the ball of tire is dipping; 
 below the horizon he throws a flood of red lif^lit indescribablv mag- 
 nificent upon the illimitable waviniif green, the colors blendin<jr and 
 separatinjij with the gentle roll of the long grass seemingly magni- 
 fied toward the horizon, into the distant heaving swf.'ll of a parti- 
 colored sea. 
 
 " It must be seen at moonlight when the summits of the 
 low green grass waves are tipped with silver, and the stars in tb 
 west suddenly disa})pear as they touch the earth. Finally it must 
 be seen at night when the distant praiies are in a hhize thirtv, 
 fifty or seventy miles away, when the clumps of aspen are reached 
 by the fire, and the forked tips of the fiames, magnitied by refrac- 
 tion, flush and quiver in the horizon, and the reflected light from 
 rolling clouds of smoke above, tell of the havoc which is ra"-in<' 
 below." 
 
Tlierfc- may be Horiro Itcrc to-nif»lit \)cUrrL' wluiso cyc^^ tlit- whole 
 woiulerliil i)iui')riuiiti of our provinces Ims passed — the ofeiiii <»iinleii 
 Ishiiid of I'rinoe Kdwhnl, the vnlhys of the St. .h»lin, the Mim- 
 michi 1111(1 the l>eautiful St, Croix, the nmrvcUous country, the 
 home of " Kvungeliiie,' where IMotnitlon looks down on the tiden 
 of Fundy and over tracts of red soil exceedin'' rich. Vou mav 
 have seen tlie fortiliod purudise of Quthuc, and Montrt-al whose 
 prosperity und l>eauty are worthy of her great St. Jjawrenci; ; »nd 
 you may have admired the well wrouf:;ht and »plt>ndin<^' I*i-ovince 
 of Ontario, and yet nowhere can you thid a situation \vlH>se natural 
 advantages promise sf) great a i'utnre an that of our great west. 
 
 Time will not j)erinit me to descrihe eacli particular section 
 fully, hut from this it in not difficult to see that tin- entire expan- 
 sive moven)eut of population on the American Continent will be 
 concentrated in the direction of our fertile valleys in this our virgin 
 heritage. An Knglish writer hus said : Formerly the richest coun- 
 tries were those in which the products of nature were the most abun- 
 dant, but now the richest countries are those in which man is the 
 most active. We may justly claim to have hoth essentials in full 
 measure. Our bountiful soil ensures the first, and oor bracing 
 atmosphere the second. 
 
 A MAGNIFICENT CLIMATE. 
 
 It is here that we may be possessed of perfect health, requisite 
 for the highest enjoyment of life. What are bountiful harvests of 
 golden grain, rich and mellow fruits, and all the wealth the earth 
 can yield if disease must annually visit the home and death take 
 away one by one the loved and yonng. Some may dispute the 
 healthfniness of the climate, but it is a fact that the dryness of 
 the air, and the character of the soil, which retains no stagnant 
 pools to send forth poisonous exhalations and the almost total 
 absence of fog or mist, the brilliancy of its sunlight, and the pleas- 
 ing succession of its seasons all cons])ire to make the North West 
 a climate of unrivalled salubrity. Whilst at New Orleans in July 
 they have fourteen hours of sunlight, we have sixteen, with much 
 longer twilight than they, consequently our vegetation grows more 
 rapidly than theirs and matures much sooner. This is a beautiful 
 law in compensation, as what we lack in heat is made up in sun- 
 light during our summers. The country is not subject to hurri- 
 canes or other violent commotions of the atmosphere, but we have at 
 times a touch of both extremes, a vibratory movement of the torrid 
 and frigid zones. 
 
 Summer treads so closely upon the heels of winter as to leave 
 but little standing room for spring. About the first week in April 
 
17 
 
 the earth l)«'>»iii« to softoii, the woodlimtl Itrconios fra«Tnint laul 
 pletiHuiit with last voai's Ipuvca and this year's hirtls ; llii' littlo rills 
 waTnlcr fe<'hly riv<r\VHr<l, ami tho wild ducks winjj: their lli^^'ht 
 al<<n{^ the water bourses. During the I'cdlowiii;^' week the days <;r(iw 
 warm and soft, rain tails in (K'casiojial shuwers and the theriuDnie- 
 ter varies fix)in Jifty iv sixty (k'j,Mee8 hotween dayhreak and niid- 
 al'ternodn. With the coming of the delicate Howers and vernal 
 liloom of ^hly the ^'rcen grasses y^row down dose to tlie water's 
 edge, tlie bright leaves spring forth and Hing their shadows over 
 the flootl, the halsann'c pine and In* kiss tin- ])lacid suriaee with 
 their overhanging hranclies, and inanimate nature expresses its joy 
 and ushers into existence l»cantifnl sunimcr. With th(! progress of 
 the year tlie supply of heat and moisture slowly declines until the 
 autumn harvest has closc^d. The autumnal etjuiuox passed and 
 the season of vegetahle growth endetl, suddenly th«' fall of rain is 
 arrested, an<l Indian summer is ushered in, the weather warm, the 
 atmosphere hazy and every ohjict ap^x-aring to wear a tranquil 
 aspect. A few days more the sleeping earth lies quiet and serene 
 when winter fairly reigns, the most healthful and invigorating of 
 the seasons and is to nniny the charm of the year. 
 
 The continually mild and soft atmosphere of the Pacitic slope, 
 west of the Rockies, far to the north, is due to the heneticial in- 
 fluence of the Japan current, liut the effect produced hy this cur- 
 rent does not cease here and the mountains form hut a weak harrier 
 to the atmospheric course of the so-"alled "Chinook winds." 
 Through the gaps and hroken ranges and even over the towering 
 peaks these winds sweep over the whole territory until their intlu- 
 ence is felt at the mouth of iIk; Red River of the north. The 
 isotherms make a great curve to the northern line of the Red 
 River Valley, and a[»proach the Pacific coast olf " liritish America." 
 The lines extend so far north that the mean temperature is much 
 higher than the geographical position indicates. 
 
 While the Hudson's Bav Co. held sway over the North West 
 it was the fashion to represent the country as utterly and hoi)e- 
 lessly hyperborean. Echoes of the stories told in those days, of 
 the ground remaii .ag frozen all summer, of mercury free/^ing and 
 axes splintering against frozen trees, still lloat in the air and make 
 men unable to believe in spite of all that has been recently written 
 that it can be anything better than an arctic region. Calumnies 
 die hard. The em-grant will lind ditticnlties in every country to 
 which he goes, but there are none in the North West that cannot 
 be overcome by united eflbrt and forethought. 
 
TIIK INIMANH. 
 
 NdW iilioiit the linliiiiis. Tlic lii;,'ljt Utvprciii] tlio Lonl HiM!i(i|> 
 ♦»f SuHkati'lu'Wtui, ill tln' eoursi' df ttii aiMrcs.s with n'fcrciic*' to tlio 
 hidiiiiis, once siiid ; I think thrr*- is a i,'r<'at dral of luiscoiifcptioii 
 aiuMit them thn)ii«,'hout (jma(hi. Yoii suy the Imliuiis are a <,'()i)(l 
 for iiothiiij^ set. That is a serious mistake. Tiie Imliaiis of lh«.' 
 Xortli ^Vest Territories liave hem treated hy the ('aiiadiun Oovern- 
 iiieiit ii) a way, sir, that I caiiiKd characterize more lii;4hly than hy 
 saviiiL' it is thor(»ii''hlv worthv of the Hritish nation. 
 
 At this present moment onr Indians all thr(»nj,'ij the North West 
 are eoMected hy the l)ominion (lovernnient upon reserves of hind. 
 I liave visited some of these r«'serve» and cjwi testify to that which 
 r liav»' seen with mv ovn eves. I ohserved tlnit the (Tovernment 
 lias appointed instrnetors, whos*.' hnsiness it is to take care that 
 the Indians are tiin^'ht the i)riiici])les of faimin;,'. Hy a))d hy, I 
 have no dcnht, we sljall see a pjrand result in refi'rence to these 
 Indians. I am one of those hopeful individuals who look forward 
 to the day when wi.' shall see the Indian population nuikinj^ their 
 l)read honestly side hy side with the white men who have come into 
 the country as inunij^'rants ; ami all this will ho the direct result of 
 that eminently wise and far-seeinj,' and thorou^ddy Rnj^dish policy 
 that has heen so eonsistisntly pin-sned hy those who now conduct 
 the destinies of (Jamida. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL CAl'ADILITIKS — ADVANTAGES OFFKRED. 
 
 The adv;inta;^o>s which we claim this portion of Canada oilers 
 t,) the a^'riculturist as a Held for settlement lies in the comhination 
 of prairie and woodland, the full advanta;^'e of which can he api)re- 
 ciated hy the farminjjf community wlio have had practical experi- 
 ence of the j^reat and contimied lahor required to clear otV and 
 cultivate a farm in a wooded country. 
 
 Tiie settler expends ten or lifLetm years of the hest part of his 
 life in toilsome stru<,'j,des to convert his farm into such pro[)ortions 
 of open and wooded land, as the settler on onr partly wooded prairie 
 lands tinds his when he fjfoes on it, and he actually receives a free 
 j^ift of a ready made farm of the richest kind. 
 
 J->esides this relief there is another advantage of prairie land 
 that operates stron<;ly in the settler's favor — that is the intinite 
 ahnndance of the rich grasses for summer and winter food for cattle 
 with which he is surrounded. 
 
 The soil possesses greatiu" cajjahilities for the production of 
 the cereals, wheat, oats and harley. Analysis hy eminent p]uro- 
 pean chemists and the experience of our farmers have estahlished 
 this fact. 
 
1!» 
 
 AVhilf tin- soil is iidaptcil ti» wlinit ;.'n)\viii;;. wluat is uctiiully 
 uiliiiifcd tt) tlu! sdil. 'I'lu; ^Tiiiii is liciivv, wt'i^^liiii;,' tVniii .sixty-twn 
 to sixt_VTi;,'lif i>itiui(ls |i»'r Imslicl. Tlic vit-M riui;,'t'S hum twnity 
 1(» lorty liuslirls |u'r lu-w, iiml Dt'tcii as lii;;!i as liltv Imslu-ls. Itf* 
 turns tVoiii I'riiici' Alliert ami otluT new sfttlciin'iits show a yit-ltl 
 of" forty Itiisht'ls of spriii;,' wheat to tin! acri*, in ««'Vt'ral iu>laiii'i's 
 iiKistlv oir iM'wly lirokt'M laiiil, ilic avi ihlii' \\A'i:,'lit Immiij; ahuiit sixty* 
 tlii'ci' pnuiids t(» ihi' l)usli(»l. LuMil iti tlif J'ritviiirt' of Mauitolta, 
 ill the viillcv of tilt* I'kmI liivcr, ami wliicli li.is l.»'i*'i clM|iiKtl fcir 
 sixty years, lust year yielded forty Imshels of wheat per acre. Tlie 
 late Hev. |)r. Ilhick's farm in Kildunan is an instame of this. 
 
 Root croits attain a i)rodi;4ioiis size. I have set n [tofatoes as 
 heavy as four pounds. Stpiash wei;^diiii}4 over 100 pounds, inmienx- 
 luanj^olds, wei;,dity turnips, carrots, onions, and all other ve;,'etal»les 
 common in a temperate clime. I am reminded of tlie statements 
 of Horatio Seymour, anil there are hosts of others, candid and 
 patriotic Anu'ricans, who do not helieve their duty to their country 
 invit«H the necessity of decryin;; Canada us some of our own jteople 
 consider it their duty to do. 
 
 The Hon. H. Seymour, e\-GoVornor of the State of Xew 
 York, in the course of a sju'ech, said : — 
 
 " I saw tiiousands and thoiisanils of acres of wjieat, clcai'in;^ 
 foi ty hnsluds to the acre, wei<,diini,' sixty-three and 8i\ty-jive pounds 
 to the hushel, and was assuntl hy undouhted authority that, on 
 Peace lliver, 1,'20() miles north-west of where f was, wheat could 
 he produced in immense (juuntitieh equal to the hest I saw in^Vin- 
 nipe<,^ while ^reat herds of cattle were hein<^ fed without cost on as 
 tine ;,'rassy land as the world affords. In short, het.veen our n(»rth- 
 westirn line of lo de<,frees and '>4 di'^nees 40 minutes ('vleni.-ral 
 ("ass' tijifhtinj,' point) there is a country owned hy En;,dand with 
 ^'reater <^rain-<,n'owin<^ capacity than all the lautls on the Baltic, 
 the Black Sea and tlu; Mediterranean comhined. The hiiid laws 
 of Canada are now as liheral as ours as to the homestead, pre- 
 emption and free claims. People are crowding? there rapidly, and 
 towns are sprinj,nn)^' up as if iiy nnij^Mc. Their ^q'eat railway will 
 reach the Pacific at the ^jjrand harbor of Puget Sound hefore our 
 Northern Pacific, and it will he extendtd eastward promptly to 
 Montreul." 
 
 That is what an intellifj^eut, hif^h-mindeii, independent Ameri- 
 can authority SHys of our North W«^st. 
 
 The official record of the Minister of Ap^ricu'ture of the Prov- 
 ince of Manitoba for the past four years shows an average yield of 
 twentj'-six and three-quarters hushels wheat per acre. This result was 
 
20 
 
 ofitiiii7('iI froiw tfic iiidiviMiml reports ()f uourfy, if in/f rvcry, fiiriiuT 
 ill flui I'roviiu'c. 
 
 Tlu^ iivcrii';*' viclil, compun-fl with tlio iivcru^^'f |>n)tliicti()U In 
 tlio Stilt*' of Mitiii«'S4itii, as (l('(liu*t'<l from its own otViciiil returns, 
 mid wliicli is ctnisidcrcil tlu^ l)OHt wliejit j^'rowiii^ Stuto in Auuirica, 
 is only H<'t down iit twonh I'lislicls to the acre. 
 
 In tills conipiirison there is food for honest pride in our iif^ri- 
 (Miltiiral ciipiiritv, in addition to the wheat hein;^ of a superior qinil- 
 ity, IIS lias heeii proved hy hirj,'e ipiuntities having heen pnichastMl 
 diiriiij^ the past Heasoii for exportation to tlie ohh?r provinces, and 
 even to tlie UnitiMl States for seed purposes at a hi^'h price. 
 
 The'ii, to sum up, prominent aiiion;^' iimoiiL? our advanta^'os 
 are : Ist, the richness and hixurioiisness of the native f^rasses ; 
 2d, tlio j,'reat ext<(iit of unoccu|»ied land atVordin;^ for many years 
 to I'onie a wid(! nin^'e for free pastura^^e ; JUl, the reniarkahle dry- 
 ness and heaithf'ilness of the weather. Tlu^ sloot, sIuhIi, mud and 
 the train of disease's which the damp and variahle winters of milder 
 climateH inllict uj^on animaJH and men, are lu^re ne-arly unknown. 
 The colli, dry air sharpens the appetite, and promotes a rapid 
 secretion of fat, and a vigorous muscular development. Wool 
 f^rows liner and heavier, and mutton and beef sweeter and more 
 juicy, the effect of climate 'iiul rich herhaf^o conihined. 
 
 What T have stated 1 have stated conscientiously from my own 
 practical experience; of four years residence in the country, for cruel 
 is the man who draws iniini^'rants to any country hy ^roas mis- 
 representations. Chan;;inj^ one's home is to all a serious event. 
 Shiftle'ss discontent transforms many a man into a pioneer, who, 
 thidinj,' a new country not a paradise, sends back evil reports of 
 the land. No matter how milk and honey may abound, no matter 
 how lar^jfe and luscious arc; the {grapes of Eschol, they arc nothinpf 
 to some tall Anak, who, becomin;^' in the face of diftioulties as 
 '* «];rasshopi)ers in their own sight," soon desire to return into 
 
 On the contrary, nearly all those who count the cast before 
 startiiif^ and who convince themselves that they are able to over- 
 come those tall sons of Anak, succeed in subduing the land and 
 enter into the possession of the milk and honey. It should be 
 remembered that a new country is not the idler's paradise, that all 
 its mines of wealth are surrounded by bustling difficulties. 
 
 THE CLASS OF SETTLERS. 
 
 The class that new sections really present good openings to 
 are tbose men who are comfortably fixed themselves, who have a 
 growing family, ])articularly of boys, and who wish their families 
 
21 
 
 to avow n\> iiiul St'ttle nituiit thciu, N\liicli I tliink is Dutiir. ^u :ill 
 |»iir»iits. NdWinlays in old st'ctioiis it Ik iiliiitist ffrtiiiii tlmi the 
 Im)\s will stiiiv a\\ll^, iiixl lunst of lluni to the wrst. Ilt-H' tin- 
 I'litlu'r ran cnuw to tin* inw ^jctiuii, tukf up tlic clieai) ai'its, lionif 
 NtcadH, etc., enough for all liis Lonh, and thus enaldt* them U> 
 iivuw up about the horut' ncHt ; tliis is 8oiu«tinirs wist-i and Itotttr 
 for all than, for the sakt- of a ftw vi-airs Uiore of pnt^fnt oouifort, 
 to tind tlninsclvt's uUnw in iniddlu lilr or old a;,'i' with more or 
 It'SH of tht'ir sons diiftin},' ahout away from them. 
 
 And Wf uiUHt not ior^at the dan^hti rs ; for tluin there is no 
 c (/miaiii-on between the two sectionw ii< the ehunces tiny will have 
 t ^et hu.sl »nds, that run ^'et hoiiieH of their own, and all tne indt- 
 p endcnce that sueh posses-sions ^'ive them and theirs. Such men 
 s hoiild ^'o out and see if these things are not so. Kdu('ati(tnal 
 facilities aie attainable an\wlurc, for the muniticence of the school 
 •.'rant is ample enou«,'h for all. 
 
 Aj,'ain, the f-ons ^'rowinj; up with such sunonndin^'s and set- 
 
 tlid j)rosi ects will escaj e niUih of the foppery and uns»'ttlcd views 
 
 of life, than in older sections that show no openings except ch rk- 
 
 8 hips, while they will have oppoitunities of becomin*,' prominent in 
 
 t he ^'overnnient of their own country. 
 
 To those who on reaching,' theie will have nothing' but their 
 hands, if they will bear in mind that to create a visible somethini^' 
 from an invisible nothing is a divine power, and that thi' odds are 
 against them, though not as largely as in the old sections, and will 
 accept and bear the disadvantage they labor under, be cheerful, 
 hopeful, industrious, and prove themselves reliable — such men are 
 wanted everywhere and in no place more than in the new settle- 
 ments. In such places this kind of men never fail this, but few 
 of them do so, hence the North ^Vest is not to-day short of good- 
 for-nothings, hut m<n of the latter kind going rut there will tind 
 most discouraging competition in that line. 
 
 Manufactures of all kinds will he wunted, and will have the 
 cost of transportation from present manufacturing centres, the 
 customs duties, etc., as extra aids. The more primary or simple 
 wants will need supply in the new sections, and the more costly 
 ard nice as they grow older. As all the jjcople come from old, 
 well settled and well furnished homes, so, too, will they have about 
 them there all those little home luxuries they once had, such pos- 
 session and purchase being only a matter of time. But those who 
 go thinking to live by their wits, I care not into what new country 
 they may go, will find some there ahead of them who ia that 
 worthies employment can double discount them. 
 
'2'2 
 
 WHAT \vi; ui;(^rnii;. 
 
 It, is liy the (•ultiviilioii of tlio soil tliiit oiir nsoiircos iiro to i)c 
 ilfvclopcd. I'iiUjss uc '^vuw wheat and raise; cattle,' on our f^'roat 
 jdaiiis we cannot j)i'osi)(r. Onr iniint'iliatf nt'c(l is sftth.TS ratlnT 
 tiian spociilaLors ; ploni^hni.'n nitlicr lliaii tradosnu.'n ; larniers 
 rather than shopkeepers. Tlio rights of itionecr settlers shall he 
 |irotec.te<l ami the welfare of our hominion will he secured, not hy 
 Inivin*,' a few j^Tcat- landlords, hut hy havinj^' millions of small 
 farmers. Mono|toli('S often s(;rvc a useful purpose in accumu- 
 lating,' and (roncentratit);^ capital on needful (uiterprises oi- la<,';4inf^ 
 industries ; they are like the scall'oldino which partly ohstructs tin; 
 sn(lewalk, hut enahh.'s th*; workmen to erect tlie huildinj,'. It imiy 
 he tolerated as a tem[)orary arran^euHMit , Itut not as a permanent 
 tixture, and so all mono|)olies will in the end j,'ive way to fair com- 
 petition. 
 
 The ladilers hy which we climh in huihlin;^' u)) our institutions 
 need not hecome the hurdt-ns which we carry on thu [)athway of 
 pro^MX'ss. 
 
 (lUKAT KXTENT. 
 
 Tfero in this portion of ('anada we have •2,500,000 srjnaro 
 miles of territory, " a re^'ion ;,n-and enou;^di for the seat of a f^'reat 
 empire — in its wheat fields in tin.' west — its inhahitants vi^^'orous, 
 hardy, ener<,'etic and j)erfected hy British constitutional liherty. 
 Soutli(;rn political stars nuist set, thouj^h many times they rise 
 a<jfain with diminished s()lendor, hut those; wdiich illuminate; tins 
 pole remain forever- sliinim,', fore^ver increasin^^f in sphunlor." * 
 Jleu-e' nature has carricul on lie'r e)perations on a j^'rand setalo and 
 with a hold hand, iler mountain sare; hi^dier and more massive 
 than the; AIjjs and tin; Appe'uines ; contrasted with her mi^dity 
 streams the; rive;i's of Murope; are me.'re hrooks, and were e)ur L'reat 
 lake's found in the old world they we)uld he di^niitied hv the name 
 of seas. 
 
 In e)ur pineries we have se)me of the le)n^'est pine trees in the 
 world ; in e)ur Saskatclu'wan coal-heds we have the most extensive 
 in the! world ; in our fertile valleys the finest whe;at in the world ; 
 and our climate is one in whiedi the- human race attains to its 
 <4r(>Htest de'vele)pment heith in hody and mind. The i,'reat f,'rain 
 pre)ducing countries ejf Kurope watered hy the Danuhe and its 
 trihutaries, Hun<,'ary, Transylvania, Moldavia and Wallachia, cen- 
 teriuf^' their traele at Odessa, on the Black Sea, and constitutin;^' 
 the },'reat JMiropean ^j^rain market for the Jiritisli Isles and the; 
 western kinj^demis, France, Spain, Portu^'al, Norway, Sweden, 
 
 * Uvu. Will. Sewarel. 
 
23 
 
 Doiiiuiu'k n\u\ tlic Gfrmaiiic conlVMlcrutiiJii, utroiJ l-ut u fuiiil 
 developint'iit of llic produciii;^' powers ol'oui' fur west. 
 
 Throuj^'li liuuls molt' rich tlmn Karo[>r's j^M'iiin liclds to a jioi't 
 luoro oi»(;M Uifiii Odessa the ('iiiuidiiui I'acilic Itailway is passing'. 
 Its total l(;iii,'tii from seiiport to seaport may lie said to \iv 'iSlO 
 miles. Ill the jiasses throii^^di the llocky Mountains the Canadian 
 I'acitic commands a route 3210 feet lower than any of the passes 
 on the American side of the hoiindary line and is lioth for the 
 purpose of defeiua; or eonimei;ce, the hest ai'd shortest railway 
 to the interior and the; Paeilic, and its cost will ]irohahly not 
 exceed Sl()(),()()(),()()(). 
 
 ■I'lIK IMI'ltOVKI) CUKDIT OF CANAnA — Till; CAUSK. 
 
 We hear soiiu! (.'anadians •.'•riunhlin;^' that this territory is only 
 }i source of expense to Canada, hut how comes it. tliat the credit of 
 Cana<la has im]troved so much of late in the nnniey markets of 
 l'hiro])e ■? Is it hecanse money is plentiful ? ^Vould that induce; 
 capitalists to place their .i;'old where they had no contideiice in tlie 
 security (d" the investment '.' No ! Th<; reason of Canada's im- 
 proved credit lies in the fact, that she has the <j;reat North ^\'est as 
 u iia,ckd)one, that her future throui^di ])ossessin^' so rich and exten- 
 sive a territory is an ussuhmI one. Jiik(! tiie I'nited States htdort; 
 her she is hound to pros|)er, hecaus(; within her own limits she 
 has an almost unlimited market to sup|dy in tlu; future with her 
 (jwn industries, and therefore within herself she [lossc.'sses all the 
 el(!ments to create wealtli and iiros|)erity, and no (»utsi(lc intlueiice 
 can possiiily ajiect her manufactiiriiif^f trade, whih- there is every- 
 thin<r to show that when other countries mav fail in the iirodiiction 
 of ij^rain, sIk;, as the jj^rcatest of wheat producing countries, is ih's- 
 tined to h(!Come the " granary of the worhl." The outlay which 
 (Canada has expended on the North West we lind in tiie ]ni\,]\c 
 documents to he as follows : j'urchase of the rights of tlie Ahori- 
 gines, Military Force and Mounted Police to preserve law and order. 
 These three items of expenditure were for the jmrpose of securing 
 to CaiKida a footh(dd in the country. That hciug s.<Mired, the 
 next thing was to organize a form of government and to survey the 
 lands for settleiiKUit. Tin; cost of the latter work has heen up to 
 this time Sl,4(;!),2-10.H7, hut as an olVsi^t to this expenditure we 
 find the following: llonn.'sread fees, .'^IIJJ,!;!!) ; Pre-emptions, 
 ^1,007,104 ; Sales in scrip and cash, <l22,ol5 acres, representing 
 with what is still due, 81,052,585.07, or a total of li<2, 173, 405.07, 
 against !? 1,479, 240. 37, heing a halance of §704,158.70 in favor of 
 the Manitoha lands ahove cost of survey. 
 
 The only expenditure of the Dominion in this territory, which 
 
24 
 
 is properly oliar;,"*iil)le to it, is the cost of surveying' the lands, and 
 this l»y the above fij^'ures has been fully recouped to the Federal 
 (jrovernment 
 
 The next expenditure to be considered is the outlay on the 
 Canadian Pacific, and as it has often been stated that the burden 
 of paying,' for this undertaking' will fall on the shoulders of the Mari- 
 time, Ontario and Quebec Provinces, it may not l)e out of place to 
 consider whether this is likely to be the case. Take for example 
 the statement for 1881 of re(;eipts and payments by the Dominion. 
 I. find that exactly S2B,S57,:U7 43 was collected from the people 
 in the way of customs, excise, and other sources of revenue. I 
 also note that for expense of government, ordinary expenditure and 
 public works, t'le sum of $33,141,749.17 was expended. From 
 this deduct the outlay on account of the Canada Pacific Ptailway, 
 SI. 044, 522. 72, leaving S29,01>G,22r).45, a sura exceeding the re- 
 ceipts from ordinary revenue by §5,739,870.02. 
 
 Now, allowing the latter sum to be an offset to the interest 
 on the public debt incurred on behalf of the Canadian Pacific Rail- 
 way, we find that not one cent is taken oat of the pockets of the 
 people of Canada to build the road, but that the credit of Canada 
 is used in borrowing money for that purpose. I have already 
 shown how the possession of this great land enables our Dominion 
 to enter money markets with success, so it narrows itself down to 
 the fact tliat in reality the credit of the North West is used by 
 Canada to secure the means for constructing this national under- 
 takinir. and therefore this territory is under no obligation to the 
 I)()niinion for the railway, especially when it is considered that 
 in the future the [)eople of Manitoba and the North Western 
 Provinces will be called upon to pay both principal and interest of 
 the great public debt incurred by Canada to build tlie road. 
 
 CANADIAN PArRIOTISM. 
 
 Now with such a territory as I have been attempting to des- 
 cribe (and the description is rather under than overdrawn), it can- 
 not l)e denied that we have all the elements within ourselves of 
 fV)rming a great and mighty nation. The past with all its lessons 
 and experiences is behin<l us, the future with its higher hopes and 
 increasing possibilities lies beyond. That future cm be as yet but 
 vaguely seen, but we have every reason to hope that with tlie de- 
 velopment of this magnificent territory, the Dominion of Canada 
 will yet become a nation greater than those ot the old world. 
 
 Here where civilization is day by dav making its wav 
 farther and farther among the forests and prairies of our vast 
 west, it is our proud destiny to l)ear the banner of progress, 
 
25 
 
 « "linstianil;)- an.l enliglitm.'nt ; to inakt- tlie wiMemoss aivl tin-, 
 s(jlitary i>\iji' to l.n.] an<l l.lossoni as the rose, and to provide 
 Jiappy Ikjiik's for millions of the hninan race ^vllo are now drai,'- 
 gingout a iniserableexistonce in the ov.'rcrowded towns and eitit-s 
 •uf the oM world. 
 
 Unfortunately the feeling of patriotism wliieli is a .listin- 
 guisliing feature in oth.-r nationalities is wanting among the- 
 young men of Canada. Of the many distinguishing charaet.'r- 
 istics of the Bilton. none are niore deserving of attention than 
 )iis nnconcpierahle love (»f country. In his estimation home i> 
 a sacred word; his songs celelmite itjiis laws protect it, and 
 his heart turns to it from afar with unutterahle longing. Th.^ 
 soldier sees it in his dream; the sailor heguiles with it the tedium 
 of his lontdy wateh ; the emigrant speaks of it with husky voice 
 to his companies) in tlie hush: and the" merchant, toiling for 
 wealth, sweetens his lahor with the hone of rfturnin"- to it. 
 ])id the Jew love Palestine and regard it as the Eden v.f th.- 
 vast, rejoicing in the ahundance (jf its wealth '. E(pially so rbn-s 
 the Brit(jn love his far famed isle and proudly speaks of h.-r a- 
 "the glory of all lands." Aroinid her ivy-covered castles he 
 delights to wander, and to gaze upoii hrr memorial colutiuis, 
 now veneral lie with age— the silent hut el.jquent remembrance 
 of other days. 
 
 Similarly shoid.l v.e fe.d ahout this pjritain (.)f the w.-st. 
 While many here I.elong hy l)irth to the British Jsles, tiny now 
 regard this as their home ; its [)rivileges we all enjoy, its sorrows 
 we share, an<l in its destiny we are deeply interested ; and, if 
 the genius an<l enterprise of our ancestoi's have raised the little 
 isle from the lowest de}»tlis of degratlation to the loftiest pinnacl.- 
 of (earthly greatness, be it our ambition to imitate their illus- 
 trious example, and reproduce upon this continent, lait upon a 
 grander .scale, the power and glory of the parent state. And if, 
 in the true spirit of patriotism, we will labor for the social, moral, 
 and material advanceu\ent of (»ur common countiy. as a nation 
 we will very soon beco)ue (j!ie of the most influential, important 
 and powerful — a credit t(^ our people and a blessing to the 
 world. 
 
 In a secular sense the hidiest dutv of evcrv man is his duty 
 to the state, and that citizenship which confers upon him pr<j- 
 tection by the law. the right of franchise, the right of everv' 
 luan nnder our glorious in.stitutioirs, glorious in the fact that we 
 live under a free state, in the active advantages of free thought, 
 free speech, and all the bl.-ssings which our fathers have fought 
 
2<7 
 
 for and fiundLMf down to us. it \vonI<l (.«• a sad cfii'n-, if possi- 
 Ur, tliat tlii'sf inestiuinl.If privik'ot'.s sliouM sU[) throu-h our 
 hands l>certuse voun<; Canadians weiv imuortliv to wjiintaiu 
 tliLMu. As a ronng Canadian I g'JoiT in nij nationaJity and am 
 proud of my fountiy, and I rfgrtt chat youn^'- Canadians, as a 
 rule, do not better api)reciate tUeir native land of promise. 1 
 ean understand how the United States, Avith its forty or Hfty 
 millions of population, and how other large countries Avith higher 
 yesponsihilitifs and greater repntatloiis, at the present iime, ma) 
 look down on a vouti-' country like thi>, hut C cuniKjt untlerstand 
 how men horn and hrougiit up here cannot ai)pi-eciate the great 
 advanta<'-e.s an<l rich resourcfes which thvy citii enjoy.. Emigra- 
 tion is the CTy : and the young men of Canada leave this expan- 
 sive Dominion, with its iiiestimahie hh'ssiogs, which ha.s heeu 
 handed a.s a heritage to them, led on by false hopes, softer airs, 
 sunnier climes and golden states, to cross the bortler, but I have 
 been there and I can tell you that it i.s all an alluring, pretty 
 gilded picture only to be seen on the canvas. 
 
 There was a time when a young man could find a greater 
 field for succes.sful enterprise in the United States than in any 
 of our provinces ; hnt it Avas years ag'.>, and the westera world 
 has changed its front since then. 
 
 The Dovninion and the Union have exchanged places, and I 
 would warn the young man who thinks of going thither against 
 the special pleading of his countryjnen across the border, Avho. 
 captivated bv the (ditter and bustle around them, write that 
 " l»usiness never was better," and you are certain of obtaining 
 constant employment at good Avages. Trace that letter to its 
 writer and you Avill most probably find that it cauve either from 
 a dr}--goods clerk Avho is starving over ^H or $10 a Aveek, or 
 from a mechanic Avho at 1^2 or §:> a day is out of employment 
 six months in the year. 
 
 I speak adviseiUy Avhen I sa}- that feA\' Canadians in the 
 United States are doing better than they could in Canada, 
 while a great number fare far Avorse and bittterly regret the 
 foolish step they have taken. 
 
 Could the young man just starting out in the Avorld but see 
 the trials that thousands of his countrymen have to endure, 
 their AA'ant of comfort and sympathy Avhen most needed, their 
 make-shift to keep up appearances, their bitter struggles to keep 
 the Avolf from the door, the little they receive for their labor 
 and the large amount they expend for the common necessaries, 
 as I have seen them in mv travels through a great portion of 
 
27 
 
 tlu' nri^l.hovinu Repnl.ric.lK,' W(.u].l not l.-avo In^ ox^n expansiv,- 
 native land for a lioint' mxW tlu' stars an.l stripes. Onr coun- 
 try nee.ls tlm assist?inee /)f aJl l.er sows. aikI ) assure tlieni tliat' 
 there are str()n^'er iij.hicenr,ents in our (nvia vast \ves< under oiir 
 -)\vn flaL,' than in that .Statidy rnion. 
 
 Til. -re is n(i necessity ^o Jeave onr onn Ijin.l. Stftv within 
 its I aunds, anywhere tVoni onr ,Uaritin?esof the Atlantic t<» our 
 Vancouver of tJte IVifie. 
 
 Aua-icu-ltntv, yieids ?, proHtahle reiurn. The nraiutenance 
 •and future pron;ress /,f the country li.-s kri,r,.ly with the youn^ 
 m.'n ; let us listen t« tJie advice <.ff tJiose Avho are ohier andwiseiv 
 an.l have fMtJi in our country snd hith in its pro^ri^ss. Jf y,,u 
 must leave your native i)rovjjice, do not h(» to frnvii^ru sJiores : 
 the wliole «.rea of th.- valleys m onr n.-w wvsteru IVovinc-s is 
 s-ichwifh undeveJoiK-d w-ealtli. They are hut n counterpart of 
 the fertih- XiJe, t}ie vnJleys of Jsar, kvaria, and the renown.',] 
 Poltava district of S.)uth Russia. The richness of .Mianu Vall.y 
 Ohio, an.l the Genesee .d' New York .State is traditional, hut 
 tlicse sections are n(.*t snpet-i.jr in this respwt t.^ our vast .herit- 
 age in t)ie West. 
 
 In nnneral resources an.l n'.anufaciunng e.apal,ijiti,..< w ar.; 
 ■n..t hehin.l any countiy in th.. w.,rj.l. Jf „in- p..puJati.jn is small 
 there is ro.n.i for incrrase, Jf wc h.av,- wJnt.-r st.,rnis t^. fac, 
 we heget pliysJcaJ vigor in en. luring fh.'Ui. if w- hnve ditli- 
 cultics to meet we will h.-gK skill in overconung, Jf w,' hav.; 
 few of the luxuries of tropical elinje.. w<' will l"^. strangers t.. 
 many of the vic.'s and .liseases that follow iii their trail. If we 
 cannot produce great .juantities of corn, w.- can I'juse an ahun- 
 <lance of roots an.l cattle. Jf w..- caiuj.)t gr.,w cotton, with 
 which to suj^pJy the niilis of }<:ngl;in.l we can furnish prairie 
 Jand to make a w heat granary for the worM. No Ja/j.l richer 
 111 soil and minerals, in pasturage an.l fishing groun.ls, in climate 
 and producti.j.i.)s,,in agricultuial resources and manufacturing 
 facilities— no. VM4f.i;vjonKj-JhNjf;n:.^^in.t^in Jin.l plain, of Juke anil 
 forest, of river and' k^iih)x\i<!, ^'V.Af/.K4anJ..:.t'he herit^igc <jf anv 
 people than.t■hl^;f^l;'n;V;IU(W.>•.(,^3XTI^;K;vr *-\Ve ar.- unworthy .if 
 onr heritage i'f Ave* .fo•^l.)t^IMm •tf.> ijmk? Ib'a/Iand where peace 
 reign.s, where righteousness dwells, wher..* 'oppression is unknown 
 and where Christianity has triumphe.l. 
 
 The shall we he worthy of the legacy he.pi^'athe.l us ])v our 
 forefathers. For we must not forget that our ( ana.lian heritage 
 as it comes to u.s is a JSritish inheritance, liy hirth an.l coniit'C- 
 tion we are tlie chil.h'en of that mother that sits mistress upon 
 sea and girdles the globe with her colonial p.jssession. 
 
2S 
 
 Thvn r*'t us Lave faitli und cultivatt.- a Iimatl f<'plinf of 
 TCf'-arfl for mutual welfare, as those wliicli are liuiiiliiit,' up a 
 fabric that is destiiiefl to eiulure. 
 
 Thus stiuiulate<l and tluis .^trengtheiifd l.y a counnon helief 
 in a glorious future, and -svith a coiMnum watchword to give unitv 
 to thought, and j)o\ver to endeavor, we sljall attain the fruition 
 of our clierished hopes and give our helovetl country a prou'.^ 
 position among the nations of the earth. 
 
 . • ••* 
 
 . • • • • . . « • *, • ' • .*.•«'••' 
 
 • • 
 
 ' :• •: :• r: - '"